Mounting for door closer



June 1965 M. M. CHECK ETAL 3,

I MOUNTING FOR DOOR CLOSER Filed Feb. 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 rmelve'y June 15, 1965 M. M. CHECK Em. 3,188,682

MOUNTING FOR DOOR CLOSER Ti:. 5. l3

Filed Feb. 27 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y MA.

INVENTORS Ti 1.]- D BY lBunam 11/ 50 1 0 J1me I965 M. M. CHECK ETAL 5 MOUNTING FOR DOOR CLOSER Filed Feb. 2'7, 196]. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lb 33 3S lb' ".HH ll- 6:93a INVENTORS Ta. .1 5 P7477045 m cw I j By lPqyncvyo M Sean/0 United States Patent Ofiflce 3,188,582 Patented June 15, 1965 Ohio Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,970 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-49) This invention relates to a door closer, and more particularly, to a mounting for a door closer incorporating a separate mounting bracket.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a separate mounting bracket for a door closer which could be securely fixed to the door by heavy screws, or the like, with the closer thereafter being slipped endwise onto the mounting bracket and supported on the bracket through flanges provided on the'bracket which extend into grooves provided in the upper and lower sides of the closer. The closer is prevented from sliding endwise off of the bracket by means of a suitable screw extending through the flange of the bracket and threaded into the closer.

One of the advantages of a separate mounting bracket is that the heavy mounting screws are concealed by the closer body, thus enhancing the appearance of the installation. A further advantage is that end of side flanges need not be .provided on the closer to receive the mounting screws, thereby reducing the overall length and width of the closer as well as improving the appearance of the closer. In addition, the use of a separate mounting plate allows the closer to be easily removed from the door for servicing.

While the use of a separate mounting bracket does provide such advantages, the use of a mounting bracket of the type heretofore proposed also creates certain problems. For example, unless the cooperating flanges on the bracket and the grooves in the sides of the closer are made to rather close tolerances, there will be clearance between the overlapping surfaces of the flanges and grooves permitting movement and play between the closer and the mounting bracket, with resulting noisy operation of the closer and excessive shock on the mounting screws during operation of the closer, with chance of the mounting screws working loose. Even if the flanges of the mounting bracket and the grooves are initially made to close tolerances, they may wear on continued use of the closer with resulting play developing between the closer and mounting bracket. In accordance with the present invention, the problem inherent with such a mounting bracket construction is eliminated by providing means for forcing and holding the overlapping surfaces in intimate contact so as to take up all play between the closer and the mounting bracket and hold the closer and bracket against relative movement. As a feature of the invention, the same means also prevent the closer from moving endwise off of the mounting bracket.

In the preferred form of the invention, the overlapping cooperating surfaces of the bracket and closer for holding the closer on the mounting bracket are provided by a cooperative dovetail rib and dovetail groove formed on the bracket and closer, and the means of the invention force the tapered surfaces of the dovetail rib and groove into wedging engagement to effectively hold the closer against movement relative to the mounting bracket.

The invention and its advantages having been broadly described, a more detailed description of the inventionis given hereafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closer mounted on a door and illustrating one form of the mounting structure of the invention, in which diagonally directed set screws at each end of closer bear against the mount ing bracket and wedge the tapered surfaces of the dovetail rib and groove tightly together, and also prevent endwise movement of the closer on the mounting bracket.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the closer removed to reveal the mounting bracket,

FIG. 3 is an end view of the closer and mounting bracket, as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing another form of the mounting structure of the invention in which 'selftapping screws are used to spread slotted ends of the mounting bracket to wedge the tapered surfaces of the dovetail rib and groove tightly together, and in which the heads of the screws prevent endwise movement of the closer on the mounting bracket.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an end view of the closer and mounting bracket shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing another form of the mounting structure of the invention in which balls carried by the closer are cammed by screws into recesses formed in the mounting bracket and wedge the tapered surfaces of the dovetail rib and groove tightly together and prevent endwise movement of the closer on the mounting bracket,

FIG. 9 is an end view of the closer and mounting bracket shown in FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a closer and mounting bracket showing still another from of the mounting structure of the invention in which set screws extending in from one side of the closer thread into slightly undersized holes formed partly in the closer and partly in the mounting bracket to wedge the tapered surfaces of the dovetail rib and groove tightly together and prevent endwise movement of the closer on the mounting bracket.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 1 force the cam into a recess formed in the mounting bracket to wedge the tapered surfaces of the dovetail rib and groove tightly together and prevent endwise movement of the closer on the mounting bracket,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG.

12, but showing the closer removed to reveal the mounting bracket,

FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 12 showing the closer partially slipped over the mounting bracket,

FIG. 15 is a sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 14 but showing the closer completely slipped over the mounting bracket,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line 16-16 of FIG. 15, and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 17-17 of FIG. 15.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS.

1-4, one form of the mounting structure of the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a closer 10 having an invention, it has not been illustrated, but it will heappreciated that it may be of any desired design which will return the door to closed opened and released. V I

The closer is mounted on the door D by means of a separate mounting bracket 13 which is of dovetail-cross section and fits into a dovetail groove 14 formed in the:

rear surface 15 of the closer 10. V I e a In installing the closer 10, the mounting bracket 13 v is first secured to the door D by suitable. fastening means,

such as the screws 16 shown in FIG. 2. vThecloser 10 groove 14 and the dovetail mounting bracket 13; While position after the door has been the mounting bracket 13, it will be appreciated that, un-' less the dovetail bracket 13 and the dovetail groove 14 of the closer are made to close tolerances and fit, there the balls to extend into the'dovetail groove 14 so that they may engage the mounting bracket 13;

A threaded hole 27 is provided at each end of the closer which extends inwardly from the end of the closer and communicates with the inner end of the holes 25. Each When the screws 28 are backed off as shownron theright-hand side of FIG. 8,

' the balls 26 may be contained wholly within the holes so that the closer 10'may be easily slipped over the mounting bracket 13;. When, .howeverrthe .closer has been mounted-and centered on' themounting bracket 13 and the screws 28 are tightened, the conical ends 28a of the screws cam the balls 26 outwardly of the holes'25 against the surface" of the mounting bracket 13, as shown in the left-hand side of FIG. 8. This forces the closer. 10 away from the. mounting bracket 13 to take up all clearance between the tapered surfaces 17 and 18 and wedges the surfaces 17 and 18 tightly together to eifectively hold the closer 10 against movement relatively to the mounting bracket 13.

will be clearance between the surfaces 17; and 18 permitting movement and play between the closer 10 and the mounting bracket 13 resulting in noisy operation of v the closer and excessive shock on the mounting screws 16 In the form of the inventionillustrated in FIGSil-4, V

the means 'for this purpose include set screws '19 which Preferably, the mounting bracket 13 is provided with recesses which align with the holes 25 when the closer.

ltlis mounted and centered on the mountingbracket 13, and whenthe balls 26 are forced outwardly by the conical ends 28a 'of'the screws 28 they seat in the recessesSt) so as to key the closer 10 to the mounting bracket 13 to prevent endwise movement of the closer 10- relative to the I mounting bracket 13.

are adapted to be threaded into threaded holes 20 which I open into the dovetail groove 14 so that the inneriends.

of the screws 19 may bear against the mounting bracket Referring now to'FIGSi' l O and 11, there is shown still 7 another form of the invention. In'this form .of the invention,zthreaded holes 29 'areprovided'in the closer adjacent each end thereof Whi'ch'extend inwardly from one side of'the closer with the .inner'ends of the holes 29 formed partly in the closer 10 and, partly in the outer surfaces 7 of themounting bracket 13, as .best, shown in'FIG. 1 1.

13. When the screws 19 are threaded and tightened in g the holes 20, theyforce the closer 10 away from the mounting bracket 13 so that all clearance between the V surfaces 17- and 18 is-taken -up'and the surfaces are wedged tightly together to ,efiectively hold the closer 10' against movement relatively to the mounting bracket 13.

13 is preferably provided with recesses 21 which align with theends of the holes'20' and into which the inner end-s of the screws 'l9extend when the closerj10 is mounted andcentered on thebracket13 so that the screws 19 also prevent endwise movement of'the closer 10' on the mounting bracket 13... 7

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 7, a slightly different form of the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention, each endof the mounting bracket 13 is provided with a slot 22 and a drilledhole 23 which extends diagonally inwardly from the end .of the, mounting bracket through the slot 22 and is adapted to receive an oversized, self-tapping screw 24. When 'the'screws ,24 are threaded into the holes '23, the ends of the bracket 13 are spread, as shown on the left-hand side of FIG. '5, to wedge the overlapping tapered surfaces 17' and 18 tightly together so that all clearance between the surfaces 17 and 1'8 is taken up and the closer 10 is held against movement 7 relatively to the mounting bracket 13. I At the same time, the heads 24a of. the screws 24..engage the edges of the vention, drilled holes 251-WhiCh open into the. dovetail groove 14 are provided in the closer adjacenteach end Each of the holes 25 has a ,ball 26: therein and the outer edges 25a of the holes 2 5 are peened .over

of the closer.

The portion 290: of each hole f29'formed in the closer 10 is of a depth approximatelyequal to'one-half of the full diameter of the hole 29, while the por-tion29b formed in the surface of the mounting bracket 13 is less than onehalf of the full diameter of the hole 29 so that when a set screw 30 of the proper size to fit the outer end of the hole'2'9 is threaded into the hole; it will force the closer 10, outwardly away fromthe mounting bracket 13 to take up all clearance between the tapered surfaces 17 and 18 and wedge the surfaces-tightly together to effectively hold the closer .10 against movement relatively to the mounting bracket 13; j

" At'the same time, the closer "10 is effectively keyed against endwise movement relatively to the mounting bracket 13 by the engagement of the screws 30 partially bracket :13.

Referring now to FIGS. 12- 17, there is shown still another form of the invention. In this form of the invention, a cylindrical cam member 31" is disposed within a recess 32 in the closer 10, as best shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. A draw bolt 33 extends loosely "through a hole 34 provided at one end ofathecloser and has a threaded inner end 33a WhlGh'iS' threaded through the center of th cylindrical cam member. 31 st) that rotation of the draw. bolt is eifective to move the cam member 31 endwise of the'closer 110.

A projection .35 provided at one end of the recess 32 has a slot '36 through WhlCh ythC draw bolt 33 extends and providesfa tapered surface 37 against which the cam member 31 may be drawn :by the draw bolt'33. When the cam member 31' is confined completely within the recess 32, as, shown inP-IG. 1-4, the closer 10 may be readily I slipped over the mounting bracket '13 with the tapered slightly, as best shown in- FIG. 8, toretain theballs 26 5 within the holes While allowing a substantial portion of f surfaces v17 of the dovetail groove :14 extending behind the When the'closerltt has been properly positioned on the mounting bracket 13, as shown in FIG. 15, the draw bolt 33 may be rotated through its slotted head 33b to draw the cam member 31 against the tapered surface 37 to force the cam member 33 outwardly of the recess 32 which opens to t-he rear of the closer so that the cam member 31 is forced against the surface of the mounting bracket 13. This forces the closer away from the mounting bracket 13 to take up all clearance between the tapered surfaces of 17 and 18 and wedges the surfaces 17 and 18 tightly together to effectively hold the closer 10 against movement relatively to the mounting bracket 13. As best shown in FIG. 16, the dovetail groove 14 in the closer may be discontinuous with a portion merely provided adjacent each end of the closer 10.

Preferably, the mounting bracket =13 is provided with one or more recesses 38 into which the cam member 31 may engage to thereby key the closer in to the mounting bracket :13 to prevent endwise movement thereof relatively to the mounting bracket 13. The provision of more than one recess 38 permits the closer to be keyed or locked against endwise movement in more than one position relatively to the mounting bracket t-o provide for adjustment in the position of the closer on the door.

From the preceding description, it can be seen there is provided an improved mounting for a door closer which while incorporating a separate mounting bracket to obtain the advantages thereof, also provides means for effectively preventing movement or play between the closer and mounting bracket in a direction perpendicular to the door which would result in noisy operation of the door closer and shock load on the mounting screws during operation of the closer. At the same time, the means for preventing such movement or play between the closer and mounting bracket also effectively prevents endwise movement of the closer relatively to the mounting bracket.

While a number of forms of the invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated that this is for the purpose of illustration and that changes and modifications can be made in the specific forms of the invention shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We now claim:

1. A door closer assembly comprising, a closer mechanism including an operating arm .assembly through which a closing torque may be applied to a door by said closer mechanism, a mounting bracket, a cooperative dovetail groove and dovetail rib on said closer mechanism and mounting bracket providing two sets of tapered surfaces on said closer mechanism and mounting bracket which overlap to hold said closer mechanism on said mounting bracket when said closer mechanism is slipped endwise on said mounting bracket so that the dovetail rib is received in the dovetail groove with the tapered surfaces of the closer mechanism behind the tapered surfaces of the mounting bracket, a threaded hole extending inwardly in an angular direction from one side of said closer mechanism with the inner end portion of said hole being formed partly in the surface of said dovetail groove and partly in the adjacent surface of said dovetail rib, one part of said inner end portion of said hole including a surface against which a screw will act when threaded into said hole to force said closer mechanism in a direction away from said mounting bracket, and a screw adapted to be threaded into said hole for coacting with said surface of the hole whereby to wedge both sets of said tapered surfaces tightly together and to also prevent endwise movement of said closer mechanism on said mounting bracket by reason of the engagement thereof in the part of said hole formed both in said surface of said dovetail rib and said dovetail groove.

2. in a door closer assembly, a door closer having an arm through which the closer applies closing torque to a door, a mounting bracket for the door closer, the closing torque acting in a direction tending to move the closer endwise relatively to the bracket, a longitudinally extending dovetail groove and dovetail rib engaging each other on the door closer and the mounting bracket when said closer is slipped endwise onto said bracket, the dovetail groove and rib comprising two sets of tapered surfaces which overlap so that portions on the door closer are behind portions on the mounting bracket to support the closer on the bracket, said portions engaging between corresponding end parts of the closer and bracket and accepting the torque of the closer, said door closer formed with a threaded opening extending from an exterior side of the closer in a direction angular to a front surface of the bracket and toward that surface, a screw threaded into said opening, a recess engaged by an inner end portion of said screw in the front surface of the bracket, said screw end portion wedging against a surface of said recess while extending in angular relation to the bracket due to the angular direction of the opening in which the screw is threaded, and said screw acting in said recess positively to lock the door closer against endwise movement While the wedging of said screw applies pressure between the closer and bracket to wedge the dovetail surfaces together, whereby to hold the door closer securely and rigidly in a predetermined position on the mounting bracket.

3. A door closer assembly as set forth in claim 1, and including a further threaded hole extending inwardly in an angular direction from a side of said close-r mechanism with the inner end portion of said funther hole being formed partly in the surface of said dovetail groove and partly in the adjacent surface of the dovetail rib, the angular direction of said further hole being inclined in opposed relation to the angular inclination of the first mentioned threaded hole, and said inner end portion of said further threaded hole including a surface against which a screw threaded into that hole will act on the bracket whereby to operate together with the screw in the first hole to wedge the tapered surfaces together.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,116 3/02 Taylor 16-62 1,252,207 1/18 Walker 248-224 1,363,321 12/20 Jaeger 248-225 X 1,891,048 12/32 Keefe 248-225 "1,958,731 5/34 Voegelein 292-337 2,144,602 1/39 Balmer 248-225 2,723,416 ll/55 Schlage 16-52 2,820,241 1/58- Schlage 16-49 2,833,522 5/58 Michaels 24-2 11 2,882,711 4/59 Clifton -451 2,893,676 7/59 Connors et al. 248-225 DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

' JOSEPH D. SEERS, Examiner. 

1. A DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, A CLOSER MECHANISM INCLUDING AN OPERATING ARM ASSEMBLY THROUGH WHICH A CLOSING TORQUE MAY APPLIED TO A DOOR BY SAID CLOSER MECHANISM, A MOUNTING BRACKET, A COOPERATIVE DOVETAIL GROOVE AND DOVETAIL RIB ON SAID CLOSER MECHANISM AND MOUNTING BRACKET PROVIDING TWO SETS OF TAPERED SURFACES ON SAID CLOSER MECHANISM AND MOUNTING BRACKET WHICH OVERLAP TO HOLD SAID CLOSER MECHANISM ON SAID MOUNTING BRACKET WHEN SAID CLOSER MECHANISM IS SLIPPED ENDWISE ON SAID MOUNTING BRACKET SO THAT THE DOVETAIL RIB IS RECEIVED IN THE DOVETAIL GROOVE WITH THE TAPERED SURFACES OF THE CLOSER MECHANISM BEHIND THE TAPERED SURFACES OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET, A THREADED HOLE EXTENDING INWARDLY IN AN ANGULAR DIRECTION FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID CLOSER MECHANISM WITH THE INNER END PORTION OF SAID HOLE BEING FORMED PARTLY IN THE SURFACE OF SAID DOVETAIL GROOVE AND PARTLY IN THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF SAID DOVETAIL RIB, ONE PART OF SAID INNER END PORTION OF SAID HOLE INCLUDING A SURFACE AGAINST WHICH A SCREW WILL ACT WHEN THREADED INTO SAID HOLE TO FORCE SAID CLOSER MECHANISM IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID MOUNTING BRACKET, AND A SCREW ADAPTED TO BE THREADED INTO SAID HOLE FOR COACTING WITH SAID SURFACE OF THE HOLE WHEREBY TO WEDGE BOTH SETS OF SAID TAPERED SURFACES TIGHTLY TOGETHER AND TO ALSO PREVENT ENDWISE MOVEMENT OF SAID CLOSER MECHANISM ON SAID MOUNTING BRACKET BY REASON OF THE ENGAGEMENT THEREOF IN THE PART OF SAID HOLE FORMED BOTH IN SAID SURFACE OF SAID DOVETAIL RIB AND SAID DOVETAIL GROOVE. 